U.S. Navy in Middle East Seizes $39 Million in Drugs
MANAMA, Bahrain – A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer seized 640 kilograms of methamphetamine worth $39 million from a fishing vessel while patrolling international waters in the Gulf of Oman, May 15-16. A U.S. Coast Guard interdiction team from USS Momsen (DDG 92) discovered the illegal narcotics during a flag verification boarding in accordance with international law. The confiscated drugs and fishing vessel remain in U.S. custody. The vessel’s nine crew members identified themselves as Iranian nationals and will be transferred to a regional nation for repatriation. Momsen was operating in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, one of four task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces. The international naval force has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. The vessel was interdicted while transiting international waters along a route historically used by criminal organizations to smuggle people, weapons, narcotics and charcoal. Crew members attempted to…
UK Frigate Seizes Illegal Heroin Shipment in Gulf of Oman
MANAMA, Bahrain – A frigate from the United Kingdom Royal Navy seized illicit narcotics from a fishing vessel while conducting patrols in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, May 5. HMS Montrose (F 236) was operating as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, one of four task forces under Combined Maritime Forces. The international naval force has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. The seizure included 95 kilograms of heroin with an estimated U.S. street value of $4 million. “This successful seizure by HMS Montrose is the testimony of vigilance and enhanced patrolling by CTF 150 units against illicit activities in the maritime domain,” said Commodore Vaqar Muhammad, commander of CTF 150. Combined Maritime Forces is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world. The organization includes 34 nations and is headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet.
French Warship Interdicts Illicit Drugs Shipment in Gulf of Oman
MANAMA, Bahrain – A French Marine Nationale frigate seized 271 kilograms of heroin from a fishing vessel while patrolling international waters in the Gulf of Oman, Feb.17. FS Guépratte (F714) was operating as part of an international task force called Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. CTF 150 is one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces. Guépratte is a La Fayette-class frigate and has been operating in the Middle East since January. Combined Maritime Forces is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world. The organization includes 34 nations and is headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet.
Q&A WITH NEW CMF DCOM
In a brief Q&A, United Kingdom Royal Navy Commodore Adrian Fryer, deputy commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander, shared his thoughts about his new role as deputy commander of CMF. Q: How does it feel to return to Bahrain? A: It’s been less than seven months since I was last here as the commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) Sentinel, and it’s great to be back again as the deputy commander of CMF, working in this rich professional environment. Bahrain is an amazing country with lots of opportunities and always provides a warm welcome. The geographic location of CMF headquarters here is perfect for a number of reasons: host nation support from Bahrain is superb, co-location with NAVCENT [U.S. Naval Forces Central Command] is ideal, and the ability to have so many of CMF’s personnel here, both in the headquarters and in the task…
Task Force 150 holds Change of Command
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Pakistan Navy Commodore Vaqar Muhammad relieved Royal New Zealand Navy Capt. Brendon Clark as commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 during a ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Jan. 18. Established in 2002, CTF 150 is one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). CTF 150 conducts maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf to ensure that legitimate commercial shipping can transit the region, free from non-state threats. “It has been an honor and a privilege to have commanded Combined Task Force 150, leading a professional, high performing and agile team,” said Clark. “As a staff we achieved outstanding results, seizing in regional wholesale value $74.5 million worth of narcotics – the second largest haul in dollar value from a command team in the 20-year history of CMF.” Clark served as the first commander of CTF 150 from the Royal New Zealand…
French Navy Frigate Seizes Narcotics 2nd Time in Week
French Marine Nationale frigate FS Languedoc, operating in support of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), seized more than 3,600 kilograms of illegal drugs during a maritime counter-narcotics operation in the Indian Ocean, Sept. 27. This was Languedoc’s second intercept and search of a vessel suspected of smuggling in the past seven days. The most recent seizure resulted in the confiscation of hash valued at $1.86 million. Languedoc was conducting patrols in support of CMF’s New Zealand-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 when it seized the illegal drugs. “For the second time in a week, Languedoc has demonstrated expertise and professionalism in seizing a large volume of narcotics that would have otherwise been destined for market, with the funds from the sale being used to finance terrorism and criminal activity,” said Royal New Zealand Navy Capt. Brendon Clark, commander of CTF 150. On Sept. 20, Languedoc seized more than 1,525 kilograms of…
Turkish Navy hands over Task Force command to Pakistan
Rear Adm. Nejat Inanir of the Turkish Navy has formally handed-over command of Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Combined Task Force 151 to Commodore Abdul Munib of the Pakistani Navy, in a special ceremony held at the US Navy’s NAVCENT headquarters in Bahrain, Dec. 9. This concludes Turkey’s sixth command of CTF-151. Formed in 2009, CTF-151 this maritime defence force is primarily dedicated to the deterrence, disruption and suppression of piracy and armed robbery at sea, and to engage with regional and other partners to strengthen relevant capabilities in the Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin and the Indian Ocean. RAdm Inanir praised the international nature of the Task Force, citing this as the main reason for its ongoing success. “We have a truly international blend of staff from 10 countries, each bringing their own culture and experience to our task force,” he said. “The wide range of strengths and different approaches…
Colonel Alaskar and the Kuwait Naval Force hand over command of CTF 152
Colonel Nayef Alaskar of the Kuwait Naval Force has ended his successful tenure in charge of Combined Task Force (CTF) 152.
2nd Commanders Conference of 2016 held in Bahrain
The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Commanders Conference took place in Bahrain on 6 September 16.
Kuwait hands over Command of CTF 152 to Jordan
The outgoing Commander Combined Task Force 152 (CCTF 152), Colonel Nayef Alaskar of the Kuwait Naval Force, has handed over command to his successor, Colonel Abdelkader Almarahleh, of the Royal Jordanian Naval Force, at a formal Change of Command ceremony held in Bahrain.